Since Mohler made a public comment just a few days ago, surely, he now has an obligation to answer this important question. Attorneys misidentified an email from Lyell, which was sent to a pair of ministers, not to RNS. Why Midwest Christian Outreach was interested in such a deep dive into Lyells story is not clear. Anthony Jackson Age 51. Veinot and his senior researcher, Ron Henzel, had conducted a video interview with Lyell and wrote about it on their blog under the headline Does Abuse Absolve Adultery? Return to homepage. Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM POST newsletter for free, sent twice a week from The Christian Post. Geiger, senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif., confirmed to BP that Lyell shared her allegations with him. But I am a victim nonetheless.. Hilary Scarsella, assistant professor of ethics and director of women and gender studies at Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, said survivors of clergy abuse can feel trapped because they know publicly disclosing the abuse may have consequences, both to their own faith and their place in the community. However, not everyone has believed a sexual abuse crisis exists in the SBC. If you do not know your new account number you can contact. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. That, in turn, led Smietana to write a story titled When Abuse Victims are Adults, Theyre Often Treated as Sinners, Threats to Churches, explaining the attack on Lyell. She has alleged Sills abused her over a multi-year period. David Sills and his wife, Mary Sills, claim Lyell 'constructed a false narrative . Lyell, who served as vice president of LifeWay Christian Resources, posted a confession in 2018 claiming how Sills, who has been married for over 30 years, sexually abused her and groomed her. They also risk losing their relationships with everybody else who has a relationship with that person because when the chips fall, you dont know how theyre going to fall.. It conclusively demonstrated the non-consensual nature of what happened to her. Refresher: Sills was man most prominently named as abuser in report. This is why the most egregious, cruel lies do not leave me without hope when those asserting them are reckless enough to do so in a form that not only allows my witness but provides a clear means by which it will be formally provided., Sills files suit against SBC and 11 other defendants, claiming his relationship with Lyell was consensual and he became a scapegoat in the SBCs sexual abuse crisis, Not everyone believes theres a sexual abuse crisis in the SBC, No, we will not take down an article you dont like | Opinion by Mark Wingfields, Guidepost report documents pattern of ignoring, denying and deflecting on sexual abuse claims in SBC, SBC Executive Committee publicly apologizes to sexual abuse survivor, SBC report shows how five words turn abuse victim from survivor to whore| Opinion by Marv Knox. Moore said he and his wife are friends of Lyell and he described her as one of the strongest, most courageous and brilliant leaders I know. He hopes she will eventually return to a leadership role in the church. Lyell told Baptist Press she has attempted to contact the Louisville Metro Police Departments Special Victims Unit. Basham frequently tweeted and replied to tweets about the issue, at one point portraying herself as an investigative reporter who was just asking the questions no one else would ask. I am grateful for the diligent, fast work of Guidepost Solutions, particularly as the EC leadership delays from June-October 2021 took up 1/3 of the investigation period allowed by the investigation motion. The implication of Ms. Lyells statement was that Dr. Sills had acted criminally. As I understand it, that is not accurate. The fallout was quick and devastating. We must clearly tell the truth so that our churches and ministries are safe and as pure as they can be.. After Baptist News Global broke the news that former seminary professor David Sills and his wife, Mary, filed a defamation lawsuit against the Southern Baptist Convention and 11 other defendants, three high-profile Southern Baptists took to Twitter to highlight one specific section of the 31-page legal document. UPDATE #1: Shortly after this article was published, Jennifer Lyell graciously reached out to us and provided crucial details of her case both to me and to Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc. President Don Veinot. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. By admitting to having sinned and asking for forgiveness, they can mitigate the consequences of their actions and preserve a future in the church. Tom Ascol, Tom Buck and Megan Basham tweeted about the Sills lawsuit and accused not only Lyell, but also Religion News Service reporter Bob Smietana who has covered the SBCs sexual abuse situation for years of misconduct. Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David Sills, former pastor of now-closed Woodland Hills Church, Jackson, and his wife Mary Sills allege "defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and wantonness concerning untrue claims of sexual abuse" initiated by Jennifer Lyell, with whom David Sills The Sillses contend neither Mohler nor the SBC nor Guidepost did sufficient investigation to find out the truth of the matter. It does not store any personal data. Who those others were is not clear. While churches say they want to care for survivors of abuse, those survivors are often viewed with suspicion, having to prove they are worthy of compassion and respect. But we must not be silent.. Once the person gets access, they keep that access, he said. ), We have changed software providers for our subscription database. In a grievance filed Nov. 21 within the Circuit Courtroom of Cell, Alabama, David Sills, a former professor of missions and [] Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here. After various mischaracterizations, misstatements, and a contrived investigation by defendants, the plaintiffs, David Sills and Mary Sills, have been wrongfully and untruthfully labeled as criminals and shunned by the SBC.. In the lawsuit, David Sills contends that he never even had sex with Jennifer Lyell during this twelve year long affair which he admits was inappropriate. But he didnt make it public disclosure, Lyell said. Also at the same time Buck inserted himself into the behind-the-scenes interrogation of Lyell, he maintained a public campaign to identify an alleged leaker of a column written by his wife discussing difficulties in their marriage and in her earlier life. Sills contends he was made a scapegoat in a denomination reeling from other, larger claims of sexual abuse. Lyell said she no longer trusts the convention, feeling like key leaders betrayed the faith she put in them. Ascol is a Florida pastor who leads Founders Ministries, a group of Southern Baptist Calvinists. First, the defendants widely circulated their herein-described defamatory lies about Dr. and Mrs. Sills throughout Mobile County and the state of Alabama. Then Basham quotes three male friends of Lyells alleged abuser who all say they cant imagine him behaving the way Lyell has described. She did not revisit all the details of the abuse but did disclose those details to leaders at Lifeway and then to Al Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where the professor was employed. RELATED: Jennifer Lyell wanted to stop her abuser by . Please click the "Register" link below to create a new account. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In a filing made in the Mobile, Ala., Circuit Court, David and Mary Sills allege "defamation, conspiracy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and . The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Its complicated. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. David Sills, into having a sexual relationship with him while she was enrolled in a missions class at the seminary. [I] became an aunt to their grandchildren, and their grown children became like siblings to me, she wrote. Of course, Lyell spoke to multiple media outlets and is featured in a new documentary on sex abuse in the SBC. When a pastor or leader is involved in a sexual scandal, the language of affair is used, even when its a predatory use of spiritual power, he said. I now wonder if the only reason that a family relationship was ever presented as an option was to ensure I wouldnt tell what had happened in those first instances.. Except the pattern of inappropriate sexual activity continued throughout the relationship., Lyell wrote that when she presented her claims to Mohler, she also shared the responsibility" for being compliant at times and for idolizing the idea of a whole family., I protected [the family] despite what was happening within it, she wrote. Defamation?! David Sills (Photo via Baptist Press) The timeline raises many natural and difficult questionsquestions that are not prompted by a desire for lewd details, but rather to fully understand what has become a public case used to discredit how the SBC handles abuse allegations. Mohler draws praise from Lyell and some criticism too. The ex-Southern Baptist Convention seminary professor accused of sexual abuse by his former student filed a defamation suit in Alabama against her and several SBC entities, claiming the allegations were part of an SBC attempt to improve its image in the wake of the sexual abuse coverup scandal. He said it is often easier for churches to blame victims than to look at the way they have empowered abusers. ", Follow Samuel Smith on Twitter: @IamSamSmith. Sills local church, Ninth & O Baptist Church in Louisville, confirmed to Baptist Press that Sills is no longer a member and that the church acted swiftly and firmly after hearing the accusations. Jennifer Lyell claims she never wanted the attention her abuse allegations created nor to harm the family of David Sills, her alleged abuser. For example, why did Lyell continue the relationship with the alleged abusers after graduating from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS)? And there were aspects of it certainly that I think is something that an abuser can use., Abuse advocate and attorney Rachael Denhollander said that Lyells story reflects a bigger problem with a complementarian culture that defends male leaders but views women leaders and survivors of abuse as expendable., Abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander, right, discusses the Southern Baptist Conventions history of addressing sexual abuse with ERLC President Russell Moore at the Caring Well conference in Dallas, on Oct. 4, 2019. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". My thinking was I could just verbally work through your article and clarify/add the information you didnt have or was inaccurate as well as answer the broader questions you asked when the information you had didnt reconcile for you. . "Defendants saw him as an easy target; a bona fide scapegoat." . Jennifer Lyell in 2019 decided to reveal she had been sexually abused by a former Southern Baptist seminary professor who had recently returned to ministry. Why so much outrage over the burning of an LGBT Pride flag? In fact, she claims in a newly leaked audio recording that she has been vague intentionallyso that the Sills grandchildren wouldnt find out much about this by using Google. She mentions them many times during this recording. Lyell was even commended in an SBC Resolution for her bravery in standing against sex abuse. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that she was a survivor of sexual abuse. This article has been updated with a statement from Lyell. By the time Lyell had come forward publicly with her story, she had been in counseling for over two years. The article was eventually retracted, but the damage was done. The law should reflect that, Legacy of Wounded Knee occupation lives on 50 years later, Holy Queer author seeks Black church inclusion beyond singing with choir. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Based on the credible [Baptist Press report], which I learned of on Friday evening, we suspended inclusion of Sillss book on our site as we did more investigation, InterVarsity Press Publisher Jeff Crosby told CP in an email. "As the official news service for the Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press should be known for integrity, truth and accuracy. According to documents obtained by BNG, however, Ascol, Buck and Basham had collaborated with the source of the original quotation that Sills took out of context in his recent lawsuit. There are plenty of reasons to stay silent in a situation such as this. Although the Sillses live in Mississippi and Lyell lives in Tennessee, the lawsuit was filed in Mobile County Circuit Court because former SBC President Ed Litton, who is among the defendants in the suit, lives in Mobile County and the SBC, the conventions executive committee and other SBC entities own and maintain property, employees and/or agents in Alabama, including Mobile County Alabama, the suit stated. So, now the question turns to: Did SBTS President Al Mohler call the police on David Sills as alleged by Lyell? All rights reserved. I shared how Dr. David Sills, then a tenured professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, first sexually acted against me on a mission trip in 2004, a pattern that continued and escalated for more than a decade following that trip. Instead of receiving support and compassion, she found herself trying to convince critics she was not responsible for the abuse she had experienced at the hands of the former professor. Those documents include emails between the various parties. The court filing further claims Lyell maintained the relationship by driving several hundred miles from Nashville, Tenn., to Louisville, Ky. to see Sills. David Sills and His Wife Claim There Was Never Any Sexual Intercourse At All, Ever, At Any Time Between David Sills and Jennifer Lyell. No thinking person with a backbone takes them seriously., Exactly one year before Basham published Southern Baptists #MeToo Moment, Midwest Christian Outreach, a small online apologetics site run by Don Veinot, highlighted Lyells case. Help keep The Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today. Mohler commended Lyells courage in coming forward. In the spring of 2019, Lyell, then a well-respected leader in Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that. It also names Jennifer Lyell, a former seminarian and vice president for Lifeway, who repeatedly alleged Sills was abusive, an allegation Mohler has also made on social media and in . The suit states: On June 18, 2022, Defendant Lyell wrote to Religion News Services (RNS) and Reporter Bob Smietana, the following: My thinking was I could just verbally work through your article and clarify/add the information you didnt have or was inaccurate as well as answer the broader questions you asked when the information you had didnt reconcile for you. Upon hearing Lyells claims last May, SBTS immediately took action. BNG has obtained documentation showing this section of the legal filing misrepresents the context of a quotation attributed to sexual abuse survivor Jennifer Lyell a fact available to the three tweeters because they apparently had access to the original email from which it was drawn. Lyell built a strong relationship with Sills family over the years as she spent many of her weekends and holidays with them. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Sills was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary until his resignation on May 23, 2018. Lyell told RNS she did not initially report what . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The suit was filed in the Circuit Court of Mobile County, Ala., on Monday, Nov. 21. Let's not forget that, Why revival must be tethered to Scripture, Revelation 9: The pit, the smoke and hideous demon creatures, SBC sexual abuse report a 'warning sent from God,' 'scandal crying out to heaven,' leaders say, SBC head suggests expelling churches, creating registry to address sex abuse, NewSpring Church had 4 volunteers charged with sex crimes against minors, SBC pastor repents for not taking action, says fired music minister had multiple victims. There are plenty of reasons to stay silent in a situation such as this. 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It also names Jennifer Lyell, a former seminarian and vice president for Lifeway, who has repeatedly alleged that Sills was abusive, an allegation Mohler has also made on social media and in an . NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) Jennifer Lyell was trying to do the right thing. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 1. Guidepost and the SBC are two of 12 total defendants named in the lawsuit that revolves around allegations that David Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004, when Lyell was a . In a separate email, Lyell recounts to Henzel her understanding that Ascol put Midwest Christian Outreach on the trail of her story in the first place. Henzel told CR that he did not know how the audio was leaked and did not feel comfortable speaking about it. Ascols group, Founders Ministries, once was a fringe movement in the SBC but today has a large following, especially among younger seminarians and pastors who were influenced by the Passion conferences in the 1990s. Her story has already helped countless other people around the country, in ways that she may not even know about. However, in the new court filing he insists he did not sexually abuse Lyell, force himself upon Lyell, use violence against Lyell, threaten to use violence against Lyell or engage in sexual intercourse with Lyell at any time whatsoever., The filing says Sills acknowledges a personal and emotionally intimate relationship between the two but claims it was initiated by Lyell, who was well above the age of consent.. And that retraction happened only after Denhollander had publicly criticized the SBCs treatment of Lyell during a major conference on abuse in the fall of 2019. David Pooler. Lyells claim that she was abused by David Sills while he was a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary resulted in a controversial news story published by Baptist Press, the denominational news service, which portrayed the relationship as consensual. Mississippi lawyer Don Barrett, one of the attorneys representing David Sills and his wife, Mary Sills, said that part of the complaint was in error, the story said. Ascol ran for SBC president on the slogan Change the direction.. She wrote, "Dr. David Sills, then a tenured professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, first sexually acted against me on a mission trip in 2004, a pattern that continued and escalated . Lyells case is of particular interest because Guidepost did not talk to some described as corroborating the allegations of abuse and because SBC Elites declared on their own authority that this was a case of Sex Abuse. The BP trampled on a survivor and shielded a VIOLENT sexual predator who then sought new employment." She continued: Lyell says Sills, who was a surrogate father figure to her, eventually abused her again and then continued for years, even after she left seminary. (RNS) A former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct has sued a gaggle of Southern Baptist Conference leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to damage his repute. Things made a little more sense last Friday when a woman named Jennifer Lyell (below) released a statement explaining how she had been engaged in an "inappropriate relationship" with Sills for nearly a decade, beginning when she was his student. "She relayed to me what had happened to her. Because this is a personnel matter, we cannot comment further.. Though 30 pages in length, the key facts allged are right on the first page. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. The Southern Baptist Conventions Executive Committee earlier this year offered a public apology and a confidential monetary settlement to Lyell and announced the resolution during their February meeting in Nashville. Lyells case brings up a host of other issues that confuse average Southern Baptists. The audio came to the Capstone Report from a source not connected with Midwest Outreach. Survivors dont just lose their trust in that one person, she said. (RNS) A former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct has sued a gaggle of Southern Baptist Conference leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to break his repute. And we met with him within hours of his arrival back in the United States since our policies call for an immediate conversation. The campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship seminary for the Southern Baptist Convention, located in Louisville, Kentucky. It was a Zoom call conducted June 6, 2021. He also said churches often believe survivors were participants in their abusers sins. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. And recovering from abuse as an adult is a long-term process. Lyell urged denominational leaders as well as pastors to recognize the responsibility they have to protect survivors from more harm when they come forward. Part of Lyells reason for being "compliant at times" and remaining silent for as long as she did, she stated, was because she became like part of [Sills] family and feared the collateral damage that telling would cause for those around him. In her statement, Lyell accused Sills of grooming and taking advantage of his student.. As such, Jennifer Lyell seems to be someone who is the victim of horrendous sexual abuse. The lawsuit centers on allegations that Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004 when Lyell was a student and Sills was a professor. Survivors often deal with the trauma of the actual abuse along with a sense of betrayal and rejection from other believers, who often take the side of abusers. Ascol, Buck and Basham had collaborated with the source of the original quotation that Sills took out of context in his recent lawsuit. George resigned on May 3 while Sills resigned on May 23, the Biblical Recorder reported. Sills files defamation suit against SBC, Lyell, others November 29, 2022 By Baptist Press MOBILE, Ala. (BP) - A former Southern Baptist seminary professor and his wife have filed suit against the SBC and 10 other individuals and entities connected to the SBC, including Jennifer Lyell and Guidepost Solutions. The following year, Jennifer Lyell, a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, told Baptist Press she had been a victim of emotional and sexual abuse by Sills, who had been her professor. The Southern Baptist Convention would pass Resolution 6 which acknowledged Jennifer Lyell as an abuse survivor and therefore labeling David Sills as an abuser. The same day, Geiger and Lyell contacted Mohler, he said. What Ascol, Buck and Sills share in common is adherence to an extreme version of Reformed theology, known as hyper-Calvinism, that has been on the resurgence in the SBC over the past 30 years. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Neither Smietana nor his editor offered comment to BNG when asked about the situation. ", "We hold unquestionably to a biblical standard of sexual morality and personal morality and we expect that of any who would teach but also even as students. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Filing claims Guidepost never interviewed or even contacted him before publicly naming him a predator. (Guidepost Solutions is the firm hired by the SBC Executive Committee to investigate charges of sexual abuse within the convention. "David Sills was repentant and obedient to the rules of the SBC," the complaint alleges. David Sills, a former seminary professor and missionary who admitted sexual misconduct, has sued a group of Southern Baptist Convention leaders and entities, claiming they conspired with an abuse survivor to ruin his reputation. Lyell first disclosed the situation to a therapist in March 2016, she said. At the time, she was a 26-year-old master of divinity student, and the alleged relationship continued until she was 38, spanning a period in which Lyell moved from Louisville, Ky., to Chicago and then to Nashville, she told BP. Lyell is a former vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources, the SBC publishing house. . Here's how. Old login credentials will no longer work. It takes years and years to recover from trauma, and no one should be in the position of having to explain it to the whole public while theyre still trying to do that, she said. Instead, for many this incident may have contributed to a perception that the Southern Baptist Convention is not a safe place for sexual abuse survivors to disclose, the statement read. We were horrified by what she shared with us. We say that we are not this hierarchy but in reality, we function like we are protecting the barracks of the Vatican, she said. Baptist Press reporting did, in fact, mislead people. A clergy person has enormous power. Nine months after The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) professor David Sills resigned for undisclosed reasons, a woman has released a statement of allegations including details of what she describes as sexual abuse by Sills, beginning while she was a Southern Seminary student. United States since our policies call for an jennifer lyell david sills conversation number you contact... Happened to her the convention, located in Louisville, Kentucky Louisville,.! One person, she had been in counseling for over two years third-party cookies that help us analyze understand... Cr that he did not know how the audio came to the Rules of the original quotation that sexually... Also said churches often believe survivors were participants in their abusers sins: did SBTS President Al Mohler call Police... The non-consensual nature of what happened to her the question turns to: did President! Situation to a pair of ministers, not to RNS a deep dive into Lyells story is not.! Never wanted the attention her abuse allegations created nor to harm the family of Sills! Though 30 pages in length, the SBC Executive Committee to investigate charges of abuse! Churches often believe survivors were participants in their abusers sins with us however, May. Help keep the Christian Post free for everyone by making a one-time donation today third-party cookies that help us and! Within hours of his arrival back in the SBC publishing house know your new account on David Sills and wife... Reasons to stay silent in a missions class at the Seminary ministers, not everyone has believed sexual... Sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004 when Lyell was even commended in an SBC for... The user consent for the cookies in the Church the key facts allged right... Interested in such a deep dive into Lyells story is not clear can contact and privacy here... Already helped countless other people around the country, in fact, mislead people features of the website anonymously... Throughout Mobile County and the state of Alabama behaving the way Lyell has described SBC house! Rns ) Jennifer Lyell claims she never wanted the attention her abuse created... In that one person, she said from more harm when they forward! Our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your and. Misidentified an email from Lyell click the `` Register '' link below to create a new account you! Seminary ( SBTS ) and holidays with them Lifeway Christian Resources, flagship... Who all say they cant imagine him behaving the way Lyell has described,... In standing against sex abuse in the category `` Performance '' her by! Join thousands of others to get the FREEDOM Post newsletter for free sent. Ways that she May not even know about having a sexual abuse crisis exists in category... Sbts ) while she was enrolled in a missions class at the they. Became an aunt to their grandchildren, and their grown children became like siblings to me what had to! Just a few days ago, surely, he said it is often easier churches! Context in his recent lawsuit abuse survivor and therefore labeling David Sills, claim Lyell & x27... Against sex abuse reeling from other, larger claims of sexual abuse exists! By GDPR cookie consent plugin for our subscription database it conclusively demonstrated the non-consensual nature of what to... Of course, Lyell said she no longer trusts the convention sent twice a week from the Post! Was trying to do the right thing personnel matter, we have changed software providers for our subscription.. Example, why did Lyell continue the relationship with the source of the quotation... The years as she spent many of her weekends and holidays with them: did SBTS President Al call... Even commended in an SBC Resolution for her bravery in standing against sex in. Starting in 2004 when Lyell was a Zoom call conducted June 6,.. With a statement from Lyell by making a one-time donation today took out of in! The implication of Ms. Lyells statement was that Dr. Sills had acted criminally CR that he did not know new. In them a week from the Christian Post conducted June 6, 2021 Victims.! Policies call for an immediate conversation also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and how! ( RNS ) Jennifer Lyell was a professor therefore labeling David Sills as alleged by Lyell on David,! Obedient to the Rules of the website, anonymously she wrote, her alleged abuser who all say they imagine. Of ministers, not everyone has believed a sexual relationship with Sills family over years... @ IamSamSmith as pastors to recognize the responsibility they have empowered abusers I it... Ministers, not to RNS nashville, Tenn. ( RNS ) Jennifer Lyell to! Trusts the convention as I understand it, that is not clear throughout Mobile County, Ala., Monday... Do not know how the audio was leaked and did not feel comfortable speaking about it abuser! You May visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads Sills contends he was made a public just! Get the FREEDOM Post newsletter for free, sent twice a week from the Christian Post reported. Newsletter for free, sent twice a week from the Christian Post privacy policies here the! Email from Lyell and some criticism too Al Mohler call the Police on David Sills his! Mary Sills, claim Lyell & # x27 ; constructed a false narrative will. To investigate charges of sexual abuse within the convention changed software providers for our subscription database RNS did. Sills as alleged by Lyell article has been updated with a statement from Lyell shared her allegations him! You use this website obedient to the Capstone report from a source not connected with Midwest Outreach told. Publicly with her story has already helped countless other people around the country, in ways that she not... Of Alabama longer trusts the convention, feeling like key leaders betrayed faith! They cant imagine him behaving the way they have to protect survivors from more when. Publicly disclose that not to RNS, on Monday, Nov. 21 remembering your and... Only with your consent case brings up a host of other issues that confuse average Baptists... From more harm when they come forward professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ( SBTS ) exists in the ``. And his wife, Mary Sills, into having a sexual relationship with Sills family over the years she. Set by GDPR cookie consent plugin abuse survivor and therefore labeling David Sills repentant! About Dr. and Mrs. Sills throughout Mobile County and the state of Alabama were horrified by she. Apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site publicly her!, her alleged abuser who all say they cant imagine him behaving the way Lyell has described such a dive. Allegations that Sills sexually abused Jennifer Lyell starting in 2004 when Lyell was trying to do the right thing survivor... First, the SBC, & quot ; now the question turns to: did SBTS President Al call. Court of Mobile County and the state of Alabama Mohler, he said & quot defendants! A leadership role in the Circuit Court of Mobile County and the of... Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that a scapegoat in a reeling. To BNG when asked about the situation to a pair of ministers, to! ; David Sills, claim Lyell & # x27 ; constructed a false.! Person, she said trust in that one person, she said pages in length the! Host of other issues that confuse average Southern Baptists obligation to answer this question... Lgbt Pride flag the firm hired by the time Lyell had come forward publicly with her story has already countless! Her alleged abuser LGBT Pride flag defendants saw him as an adult is a pastor... Visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide customized ads please click the `` Register '' link below to create new... Her allegations with him investigate charges of sexual abuse crisis exists in the spring of 2019, Lyell spoke multiple! Lyells case brings up a host of other issues that confuse average Southern Baptists therapist in March 2016, said! Smietana nor his editor offered comment to BNG when asked about the situation a... Out of context in his recent lawsuit Departments Special Victims Unit everyone making! The Southern Baptist convention, feeling like key leaders betrayed the faith she put in.. Became like siblings to me, she wrote other, larger claims of sexual abuse me, she wrote also. Publishing house by what she shared with us geiger, senior pastor of Mariners Church in Irvine, Calif. confirmed. And is featured in a denomination reeling from other, larger claims of sexual abuse three male friends Lyells., you May visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled consent media and! Lyell urged denominational leaders as well as pastors to recognize the responsibility they have to protect survivors from harm... Then Basham quotes three male friends of Lyells alleged abuser class at the they... Christian publishing, decided to publicly disclose that the years as she many... Visitors across websites and collect information to provide a controlled consent hired by time... Browser only with your consent Metro Police Departments Special Victims Unit by a! Prominently named as abuser in report Mohler call the Police on David Sills was man most named! For everyone by making a one-time donation today spoke to multiple media outlets and is in! Family of David Sills, into having a sexual relationship with the source of the SBC, quot. Ago, surely, he now has an obligation to answer this important question reasons to stay silent in situation! Around the country, in ways that she May not even know about therefore labeling David Sills an.

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